HELP!!! I have the # for my BC, but need to know if its flat,median or steep?

ginga1964 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 12:31 AM

I have my prescription to order toric lenses, and i do know i want to order the DURASOFT 3 OPTIFIT COLOR TORICS,but when i go to the numbers on the basecurve it gives flat,median or steep, and all I have on my Rx is the # which is 8.50 , i do know that the lower the number the steeper your base curve.So what is it??? please help me these lenses are real pricey and i don't want to order the wrong ones??!!

OPTIDONN · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 09:08 PM

Best bet is to check with your Dr.

indianguy · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 03:32 PM

Thats a median (medium) base curve. Below 8.5 is Flat, and above 8.5 is steep.

OPTIDONN · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indianguy

Thats a median (medium) base curve. Below 8.5 is Flat, and above 8.5 is steep.

Wrong! These numbers refer to the lenses radius of curvature. The steeper the lens the lower the number. The higher the number the flatter the lens. Lets look at this example. Lets compare the radius of a golf ball and a beach ball. The beach ball has a higher radius of curvature than the golf ball. Lets remove an equal portion of each. The golf ball (with the lower radius) will have more curvature than the beach ball. If a person took your advice and some how got ahold of lenses that were too steep there could be some corneal damage! Please only give advice regarding technical or medical info if you are qualified too. Always remember that the best advice if your not sure of something is to ask your Dr.

indianguy · #5 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OPTIDONN

Wrong! These numbers refer to the lenses radius of curvature. The steeper the lens the lower the number. The higher the number the flatter the lens. Lets look at this example. Lets compare the radius of a golf ball and a beach ball. The beach ball has a higher radius of curvature than the golf ball. Lets remove an equal portion of each. The golf ball (with the lower radius) will have more curvature than the beach ball. If a person took your advice and some how got ahold of lenses that were too steep there could be some corneal damage! Please only give advice regarding technical or medical info if you are qualified too. Always remember that the best advice if your not sure of something is to ask your Dr.

Sorry about that! I was going by my OD's advice that the reason why when I switched from Durasoft 8.6 that fit my eyes perfectly, to Acuvue which only come in 8.0, the lenses wander around my iris too much was because the "Acuvue are too flat for my eyes". I will have to go back and ask him if he was drinking that day or what, to tell me the opposite of the real steep and flat.

Anyway, you're wrong to say "Wrong" as my answer to the question of what 8.5 is, it is indeed Median! I was wrong about which direct is flatter or steeper, based on the above weird explanation I got, which I posted elsewhere a while ago in the acuvue colors thread.

OPTIDONN · #6 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 11:39 AM

I think you may have misunderstood your Dr. some lenses may be 'steep' or 'flat' but don't fit the same often as a result of material or certain design parameters. And you may have been somewhat accurate when you mentioned that 'median' base curves. But you were wrong about everything else. You need to understand that contact lenses are a medical device and can only be fitted and prescribed by a Dr. You are not qualified to give this advice. Feel free to go and check this information with your Dr. Next time you give advice all I ask is that you identify your self as a consumer or that this was something that you were 'told'. This may help prevent reader from taking the wrong advice. Now this is a warning to all posters. DO NOT GIVE TECHNICAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE UNLESS YOU ARE A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL OR IDENTIFY YOUR SELF AS A CONSUMER NON-EXPERT! OR YOU WILL BE BANNED!!!